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Setback for Morel keeps Hudson at third

Setback for Morel keeps Hudson at third

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Orlando Hudson

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CHICAGO -- Friday's update concerning Brent Morel was not anything that could be construed as positive news.

Morel returned from his Minor League rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte after aggravating his lumbar back strain during Thursday night's game in Toledo. Morel took himself out of the game after just one at-bat.

"I'm pretty sure he's on his way here today or tomorrow to get checked out," said White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "There's something else going on there, so it's a setback."

Without Morel, the White Sox will rely on Orlando Hudson, Brent Lillibridge and Eduardo Escobar to anchor third base, with none of them having previously played that spot as their featured position. But Ventura expressed confidence in what he has at third, and didn't plan to push general manager Ken Williams to acquire a replacement.

"It has to be the right fit and it has to be the right person for him to be able to do that," said Ventura of Williams making a deal. "We talk about different things all the time, not necessarily subtracting or adding players, but there's conversation going on all the time.

"It's one of the constants of being in this position for me and being at this level with these guys. Everybody is evaluated. Ideas are thrown around."

The White Sox have a 10-4 record in the games started by Hudson at third base. Hudson hasn't exactly performed with Gold Glove consistency at this new defensive spot, and has given himself tough grades through the learning process.

"I'm scuffling," Hudson said. "But our manager is one of the best third baseman to play the game. He's trying to get me out of my own head defensively. That's the biggest thing. Other than that, I'm trying to catch it and get over to first base. It hasn't been pretty lately but hopefully it gets a little better soon."

"There are different things that are happening that he's not used to," said Ventura of Hudson, who had never played third base at the big league level before this season. "It's a learning process and we're trying to bring him up to speed as fast as you can. You can only teach so much and some of it has to be the experience of being out there and doing it. I expect him to be better now that he's gone through that."